Carpenter bees are large, solitary bees belonging to the Xylocopinae subfamily. They are named "carpenter bees" due to their nesting behavior, as they excavate tunnels in wood to create their nests. These bees are found in various parts of the world, including North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Here are some key features and characteristics of carpenter bees:

1. Appearance: Carpenter bees are usually robust in size, ranging from 0.5 to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 cm) in length. They have shiny black bodies with some species exhibiting yellow or white markings on their heads or thoraxes. Male carpenter bees often have a patch of light-colored hairs on their faces.

2. Nesting Behavior: Unlike social bees such as honeybees, carpenter bees are solitary. Each female carpenter bee constructs her own nest by tunneling into wood, such as dead tree trunks, tree branches, or wooden structures like decks, fences, or eaves. They prefer unpainted or weathered wood.

3. Nest Structure: Carpenter bee nests consist of a series of tunnels that can extend several inches deep into the wood. The female bee creates separate cells within these tunnels, each intended for an individual egg. She provisions the cells with a mixture of pollen and nectar to feed the developing larvae.

4. Pollination: Carpenter bees are important pollinators. As they visit flowers to collect nectar, they inadvertently transfer pollen from male parts (anthers) to female parts (stigmas), aiding in plant reproduction and fruit production.

5. Behavior: Male carpenter bees are often more aggressive and territorial than females, though they do not possess stingers. They may hover around potential nesting areas, attempting to deter intruders. Females, on the other hand, have stingers but rarely sting unless directly provoked or handled.

6. Life Cycle: Carpenter bees undergo complete metamorphosis, progressing through egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages. The female lays eggs in the nest cells, and the larvae develop within the tunnels, feeding on the provided pollen and nectar. After pupation, the adult bees emerge from the nest to start the cycle anew.

While carpenter bees can cause aesthetic damage to wooden structures, they play a vital ecological role as pollinators. It's important to balance the need for protecting property with conservation efforts that support these valuable insects.